Warne has Richie Barker and Darren Potter as his chief lieutenants at MK Dons and believes one of the keys to successful football management is to surround yourself with good people.
“At times, they don’t even need me here, and I don’t mind saying that. If I wasn’t here for a week I don’t think anyone would really notice,” he joked.
“All I have to do is have relationships with my players and staff, make them feel valued and worthy.
“I know there are other managers who are brilliants coaches, some are brilliant motivators, there’s all different ways, but the way I’ve always tried to do it is just empower people to do their job if they’re better at it than me.”
Winning a fifth promotion is Warne’s priority but he admits the burden and responsibility to do well does take a toll.
“When the final whistle has gone on virtually all my promotions, my celebrations haven’t been great, I’ve just gone in my own office, locked the door and had 10 minutes to think ‘oh, the relief, I’m just exhausted’,” he said.
“(But) I know that if they get promoted and they have their kids on the pitch and all that, and I can stand at the back and watch it, that is literally unmeasurable joy for me so that’s what keeps me going.”
“My mate in the village always said to me ‘what’s your five-year plan, 10-year plan’, I’m not like that I just live in today I don’t know what tomorrow looks like, so I have this insatiable desire to try, with the chairman’s support who’s been brilliant with me, and get this club to somewhere – and even if I play a little step on that road, great.”